Paper folding machine



Aug. 23, 1932 H. F. BECHMAN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Aug; 23, 1932. BECHMAN 1,873,102

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY IE. BECHMAN, OI BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN PAPER FOLDING macnmn Application filed January 31, 1925. Serial No. 6,088.

The object of this invention is to provide a paper folding mechanism in which a uniform positive gear drive is maintained between the folding rolls under all conditions of service, whether the rolls are folding a thin or thick paper or whether the rolls are normally adjusted close together or spaced apart. The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the gearmg W for driving the folding rolls whereby a positive mesh of the gearing. is always maintained regardless of the adjustment of the rolls.

In rotary newspaper folding machines .the L5 paper is usually tucked between a pair of revolving rolls which are usually geared together by intermeshing gears on the rolls, of approximately the same diameter as the rolls, one roll ofa pair being thus driven directly from the other. In order to prevent injury to the surface of the paper one of the rolls is usually mounted in movable bearings controlled by springs which act to press the rolls together and one of the rolls is usually so 15 mounted that it can be manually adjusted to vary the normal space between the rolls to suit different thicknesses of paper, and this adjustment of course varies the distance between the centers of the roll gears. The roll i0 gears being small in diameter and in order to run smoothly their teeth will properly interlock or mesh only a small distance and this limits the practical adjustment of the rolls: and it sometimes happens that an un- 5 usually thick paper passing between the rolls will force themso far apart that their gears are moved out of mesh, and this usually results in breakage of the gears and necessitates stoppage of the press and folder for D repairs,-or readjustment of parts.

My present invention provides a gear drive which permits the rolls to be adjusted apart to any desired extent without affecting the mesh between the roll driving gears and in- 5 sures smooth running and protection against breakage under all conditions of service.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which show part of a rotary folding machine equipped with one practical embodiment of the invention sufficient to enable others to adopt and use the same. Following such description I have summarized in the claims the essentials of the invention andthe novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a rotary folder equipped with my invention. Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the rolls and novel driving gearing with the rolls touching; and Figure 5 is a similar view showing the rolls as they would be separated by or for an unusually thick paper.

Figure 6 is a detail view of themountings of the adjustable roll.

The invention may be applied to a folder of any suitable construction, preferably of the rotary type; such folder has one or more pair of folding rolls, only one pair of such rolls being shown in the drawings. One roll D of the pair is j ournaled in the folder frames A in the usual manner. The other roll D is journaled in sleeves E, F, on rocking or swinging supports E and F, which are respectively mounted on studs S and T attached to the adjacent side members A of the folder frame, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4-.

The support E has an arm E2, that extends at an angle to sleeve E, see Figure 2, and the outer end of this arm is adapted to contact with a cam H, which cam is eccentrically' mounted on a shaft U journaled in the frame A parallel with and atthe outer side of the roll D. Similarly the sup ort F has an arm F2, which is adapted to e engaged by a cam H on shaft U similar to the cam H.

To the arm E2 is pivotallyconnected a rocker stud E3-to which is connected a rod. L, the lower end of which passesthrough a rocker stud M pivotally connected to theadjacent side frame; and an expansive he1i-.

cal spring V is strung on rod L between the studs E3 and M. Similarly a rocker stud F3 is attached to the arm F2, and a rodL'is I connected to this stud and extends through,

a rocker stud M on the frame, and a spring V isstrung on rod L between the studs F3 and M, see Figure 4. The springs V and V always tend to rock the supports E and F, so as to yieldingly press the roll D toward the roll D, but the extent of approach of the roll D toward the roll D is limited by the "--cams H, H. These sp tend to press the roll D against the roll D so as to iron the paper as it passes between the roll yet allow the rolls to yieldingly separate or spread apart under pressure of a thick paper. The rolls are manually adjusted for different thicknesses of papers in one direction only, the springs compensating for variations in the other direction. The cams can be manually adjusted by rotating the shaft U so as to regulate the normal separation of the rolls D and D.

As shown a double arm lever (G, G) is attached to one end of the shaft U and to one arm G is pivotally attached a nut P which is engaged by a screw P, rotatably mounted in a rocker stud N pivotally attached to the frame, said screw P being rotatable by its hand wheel 0. By turning the screw P the shaft U can be rocked and the cams H, H shifted so as to more or less depress the arms E2, F2, against the action of the springs V, V, and this adjustment can bemade at any time by the operator. The arm G of the lever is provided with an arcuate slot G2, through which passes a stud K attached to the adjacent frame member A, and on the stud 1s a nut K. When the shaft U has been properly adjusted this nut K can be tightened to lock arm G (and shaft U) in adjusted position, independently of or in addition to the screw P, thus insuring permanent accuracy of adjustment. The cams H, H may be adj ustably fastened to the shaft U by any suitable means, as by screws I, I.

It is essential that the rolls D, D be driven positively and in proper time and relation to each other in all relative positions in WhlCl'l they may be adjusted or to which they may be forced by papers passing therebetween. Ordinarily the rolls D, D are driven by directly intermeshing gears on their shafts, as stated, but when such gears are employed only a limited adjustment of the rolls is permitted, and as the rolls are separated the v mesh between the gears varies and there is a tendency of one roll to slip or move irregularly in relation to the other; and if the rolls be too far separated such gears may be moved so far out of mesh that they will clash or break when the rolls again move toward each other and this frequently necessitates stoppage of the machine until the damage is repaired, and at least results in defective folding.

In my invention the rolls are kept in true positive uniform geared relation at all times no matter in what relative position they may i be adjusted or how affected by different thick nesses of papers. For this purpose and in accordance with myinvention the rolls D,-D are respectively provided with pinions Q, Q on their ends of smaller diameter than the rolls, (see Figures 2, 4 and 5) and instead of these gears meshing with each other (as heretofore customary)the pinion Q meshes with a gear R which may be journaled on an extension of the adjacent stud S, or a stud in line with and concentric with said stud, so that the gear R is pivoted on the same lineal center as brackets S and T, which carry the swingable roll D; and therefore the pinion Q on roll D swings around the same center as that upon which the gear R is mounted, and no matter how much the roll D is moved toward or from the gear D, or how mucharcuate movement the roll D and pinion Q have relative to the gear R, the pinion Q always maintains full, constant and uniform mesh with the gear R.

The gear R is driven by a gear R mounted on a stud R2 on the frame. The gear R is preferably of the same diameter as the gear R and meshes with the pinion Q on the roll' -D. In the construction shown the pinion Q meshes with a gear W mounted on a stud W2, attached to the frame A (see Figure 2), and this gear W may be driven by a gear B2 on the shaft of the folding cylinder B. There is thus a direct constant gear drive maintained at all times between the folding rolls D, D no matter in what position they are adjusted.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rolls D, D are set close together, as is the case when they are to fold small papers. Where it is desired to fold papers of considerable thickness, the

shaft U should be adjusted so as to cause the cams to rock the supports for roll D and move it away from the roll D. In Figure 5, the roll D is shown as considerably separated from roll D, but notwithstanding the great difference in the relative positions of the roll D, D in Figures 4 and 5, at all times a constant positive uniform gear drive is maintained between the rolls.

By the means described the pressure and spacing of the rolls can be accurately varied while the folder is running without danger to the operator. Also if more pressure is required on one edge of the paper than the other the cams H, H can be so adjusted on shaft U that one end of the movable roll D can be set somewhat closer to the fixed roll with little if any variation in the amount of pressure exerted by the springs V, V.

In some cases the pivotal centers of the swingable supports E, F, and the center of the gear R might vary a little so that the are through which the roll D moves would not be precisely a radius around the center of said gear R, but would coincide for suifi- -fecting the positive uniform gear drive beadjustable roll toward or from the. other roll; with non-intermeshing pinions on the adjacent ends of the rolls, a train of gears for communicating motion from one roll pinion to the other the distance between centres of all gears which mesh being constant, whereby thesaid rolls are held in constant positive uniform gear drive in all positions I of the adjustable roll; the adjustable roll being movable on an are substantially concentric with the center of the gear meshing with the pinion thereon.

,2. In a folder; a pair of folding rolls one being movableto or from the other on an arc,-

swingable supports carrying said movable roll, springs for'moving the supports to yieldingly press the'movable roll towards thejopposite roll, a shaft, cams thereon adapted to engage the supports to limit the spring actu-,

ated movement thereof, and means for adjusting the shaft.

3. In a folder; a pair of folding rolls, means forbodily adjusting one of said rolls to or from the other; means for independently adjusting either end of said adjustable roll; non-intermeshing pinions on the ends of said rolls,'and gearing between the pinion of one roll and the pinion on the'other roll, the adjustable roll'being movable on an arc substantially concentric with the center of the gear meshing'with the pinion thereon the 7 distance between centres of all gears which mesh being constant, whereby a constant positive-uniform gear drive is maintained between the rolls in all positions of the adjustable roll.

' 4; In a folder, being bodily adjustable to or from the'other on an arc; swingable supports carrying said adjustable roll, springs for moving the sup- .ports in one direction, and adjustable cams adapted to independently adjust the sup.-

ports, and means for simultaneously shifting the cams to bodily adjust said roll, said cams limiting the spring actuated movement of the v supports.

5. In 'a folder; a pair of folding rolls; one being movable to or from the other, swingable supports carrying said movable roll;- the said roll being movable on an arc substantially concentric with the center of the gear meshing with the pinion thereon, a shaft, cams thereon adapted to engage the supports and limit the spring movement thereof; a lever for adjusting the shaft, means for fasa pair of folding rolls, one

tening the lever in adjusted position; nonintermeshing pinions on the ends of said rolls, and gearing between the pinion of one roll and the pinion on the other roll.

6. In a folder; a pair of folding rolls; one' being movableto or from the other, swingable supports carrying said movable roll,

springs for moving the supports to press the movable roll towards the opposite roll, a

shaft, cams thereon adapted to engage the supports and limit the spring-actuated movements thereof a lever for adjusting the shaft, means for fastening the lever in adjusted position; non-intermeshing pinions on the ends of said rolls, and gearing between the pinion of one roll and the pinion on the other roll; the adjustable roll being movable on an are substantially concentric with the center of the gear meshing with the pinion thereon the distance between centres of all gears which mesh being constant.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as .my own, I affix my signature.

HENRY F, BECHMAN. 

